Chapter-5 Warning

Nico

Gianna was playing with fire and she was going to get burned.

“I will destroy you if you allow me to get closer, Gianna,” I warned and I meant every word.

But somehow my gorgeous wife didn’t seem to be in the mood to listen. There was a determined glint in her eyes when she stepped closer and kissed me. It was brief, just a soft brush of her lips but it evoked something inside me that suddenly wanted more. More of that sweet, warm taste of her.

I was never a man driven by physical desires. Never. Control was always my greatest strength, something I prided myself on. But even the most controlled man has his needs. And Gianna, well, she wasn’t exactly helping. Her soft, feminine innocence stirred something dark within me. The way she looked up at me, so shy and submissive, ignited thoughts I shouldn’t entertain. But this was Gianna…I kept reminding myself that every time she was close.

She deserved better than just wild sex.

I’d rather jerk off in the shower than use her body to satiate my needs and end up hurting her in the process especially when all I could see in those dark beautiful eyes of her was nothing but unconditional love for me.

“Destroy me…” she whispered.

A soft flush crept up her cheeks, her pupils dilating as she gazed at me. The air in the room suddenly felt too hot, and my shirt felt too tight to breathe properly. Desire and need coiled inside me like a storm waiting to break free.

Gianna didn’t know what she was asking for and didn’t realize how dangerous I could be if I let myself give in. Yet, without thinking, I closed the distance between us. Locking my eyes on hers, I reached for her ponytail, pulling it free so her golden hair spilled over her shoulders. Gianna watched me in silent admiration as I wrapped the silken strands around my hand, tilting her head back gently but firmly, exposing the soft line of her throat.

“You don’t know what you’re asking for,” I murmured, though my voice lacked conviction as my lips brushed against her jaw. She shivered in response, her hands clutching at my shirt, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

“Then show me…” she breathed. I had to bite back the growl that threatened to escape as she awoke that dominant, masculine part of me with her soft, seductive voice and sweet submission.

Her brand new white marble desk was behind her, and with a swift, effortless motion, I lifted her onto it. Her dress rode up her thighs as I stepped between her legs, the sight of her smooth bare skin making my cock stand to attention. My hands gripped her supple thighs, pulling her closer as my mouth claimed hers.

I leaned in, my lips brushing hers softly at first, just enough to make her lips part. I felt her shiver under the gentle pressure, and then I pulled her closer, claiming her mouth with a fierceness that surprised us both. My hands slid up her thighs, moving slowly, deliberately, as I deepened the kiss. Her skin was like soft and supple like butter and a part of me imagined how my fingerprints would look like imprinted on it. The thought turned me on big time but startled me too.

Her fingers twisted into my hair, tugging hard enough to draw a low groan from me. I deepened the kiss, my free hand sliding up her side, grazing the curve of her waist. I kissed her hard, my tongue pressing against hers, demanding all of her because I really didn’t do gentle.

“Nico…” she gasped my name like a sacred prayer. “I love you…”

I paused.

Gianna’s eyes met mine, filled with trust and something deeper—something I didn’t deserve. And right in that moment, another face flashed in my mind. Dark eyes faded into captivating green ones, and golden hair was replaced by a cascade of rich, dark tresses.

“Nico…” I heard her voice in my head and suddenly my reality and my desires weren’t catching up anymore.

“Nico…” Gianna murmured, pulling me back. “Nico?”

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.

“I can’t,” I rasped, stepping back as if burned. The dazed look in her eyes pierced me, but I forced myself to look away. “I’m sorry but I can’t,”

Without saying a word, I turned and walked out of the room, leaving her breathless and stunned. And I swear the last glimpse of hurt I caught in her eyes before I walked out was going to haunt me all day.

____________________

“You look like you have eaten shit,” Caelian remarked as we drove to the abandoned shipping container yard where the last delivery was supposed to take place before things went south.

It has been a long day of dull business meetings, especially the one where Domani gave me an estimate of the losses we incurred in the last three months just because some motherfucker had grown the balls to mess with me. Money wasn’t the problem. There were plenty of other ways to make up for it. I was pissed by the audacity but more than that by the underlying meaning behind these petty attacks. Yet annoyingly enough, throughout the day, all I could think of was that kiss in the study and then Gianna’s pain-filled eyes as I ran away like a fucking pussy.

How the fuck was I going to face her again?

“What is it?” Caelian probed again. “Worried about the estimate Domani gave?”

“No, just tired,” I lied, undoing my tie. “It’s been a long day.”

“I told you to go home and let me deal with this,” he grimaced, making a face. “But you have to poke your big head in everything. You should spend time with your wife instead of dealing with some lunatic on the loose.”

“Stop pretending like you don’t know what this marriage is about Caelian,” I grumbled, closing my eyes. “And that lunatic has successfully managed to mess up three shipments worth millions of dollars. I can’t see how I don’t need to poke my big head.”

“I get it but I just want you to relax and be…” he looked lost momentarily and then shrugged. “Happy, I guess. And Gianna can help with that. If you let her…”

I couldn’t find the words to respond because I didn’t know what to say. I have been in love with someone for eighteen years. For all those years, I believed she was the one for me, and that we’d eventually end up together. Then, without warning, another man walks into her life, and she chooses him over me. Maybe he was everything I couldn’t be, more perfect for her than I ever was. But that doesn’t make the pain any easier to bear or the ache that still lingered. I’ve tried to move on—what choice did I have? But clearly, I’ve done a terrible job of it. The anger still burned, and I couldn’t shake the dreams I held onto for so long.

I was terrified of ever getting close to anyone again. I knew Gianna loved me, but I couldn’t bring myself to love her back. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t even sure I knew what love was anymore or ever. Growing up, love was a luxury I didn’t have.

“Let’s focus on work,” I said finally as the car halted in front of the abandoned shipping container yard.

Caelian gave me a defeated look but smartly kept his mouth shut as we climbed out. I could taste rotting iron, the salt from the sea, and a concoction of other funny smells as I pulled out my limited edition vintage Colt Python, my baby. His gun all loaded, Caelian motioned the others to do a quick sweep before we barged inside. It was pin-drop silent all around. And although Caelian’s men gave us a green signal after keeping an eye here all day, we couldn’t afford to take unnecessary risks. The rusted iron gate groaned like a bitch as they kicked it open and then jogged inside and spread out before disappearing from our sight.

“I hate this place,” Caelian hissed. “The salt makes my skin itch.”

“Maybe bring some lotion next time,” I rolled my eyes. Caelian held up his middle finger in response, the F word not making out of his lips as a raspy voice came through the Bluetooth piece.

“All good, boss,” Giulio said. He was Caelian’s right-hand man.

“Let’s go,” I muttered, eager to get this shit done with. I just needed to inspect the damage and see if we could trace hints of any old enemy lingering back again and then just fucking go home. I needed a long, steaming shower.

The smell got worse the deeper we ventured into the yard. It clung to the air like a warning, thick and putrid, twisting my stomach into knots. The old rusted shipping containers cast ominous shadows beneath the dim light of a flickering yard lamp overhead. Giulio appeared from the other side of the lot, his steps hurried as he waved us toward the far end.

“It’s over here,” he said, his voice grim.

The container loomed ahead, its faded blue paint chipped and peeling, the massive metal doors slightly ajar. That alone made my blood boil. Whoever had done this didn’t even bother to cover their tracks. I gestured to Caelian, who signaled for two of his men to secure the area again.

Caelian and I approached the container, guns drawn, and I nodded for him to open it. He reached for the handle and kicked the heavy doors apart with a loud screech of rusted hinges.

The stench hit me first—chemical and metallic, with a sickly sweet undertone that made my jaw clench. The interior was chaos. The wooden crates meant to conceal the shipment had been torn open, their splintered remains scattered across the metal floor. Powdered drugs spilled out in mounds, some of it streaked with what I assumed was motor oil. The packaging was slashed apart, the contents deliberately ruined, almost as if someone wanted to send a message.

“Motherfucker,” I growled under my breath, stepping inside to get a closer look.

My shoes crunched over broken glass and debris. Half the shipment was unsalvageable, the rest barely intact, contaminated, and useless. Caelian crouched near one of the crates, carefully lifting a torn bag of what used to be a pristine product.

“They didn’t just destroy it,” he muttered. “They made a goddamn spectacle of it.” My teeth ground together as I stared at the mess. The rage simmering inside me began to bubble over, my hand tightening around the grip of my Colt Python until my knuckles turned white.

“Whoever did this is going to fucking regret it,” I said, my voice low and venomous. My mind was already racing, trying to piece together who had the guts—and the audacity—to pull this shit.” Caelian straightened, brushing his hands off as he stepped away from the ruined shipment.

“Looks like they wanted us to find it like this. It’s too obvious. Almost…taunting.”

“Yeah, and they’re going to choke on their fucking taunt when I’m done with them,” I snapped, the words cutting through the thick, stagnant air.

“Boss…” Giulio’s somewhat shocked voice distracted us.

“What?” Caelian demanded, looking irritated. Guilio blinked at us and then pointed to something. His eyes were glued to the floor beyond the mess. I followed his gaze and my blood ran cold.

There, painted in thick, dripping red across the floor, was a symbol. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as I slowly stepped forward, my instincts screaming at me to stay calm, but my body refusing to obey. The red, still glistening with fresh paint, glared up at me like a warning. I clenched my fists so tightly my nails bit into my palms.

“What the fuck is this?” Caelian muttered, stepping closer. I took a step back, my mind racing. Panic clawed at me, but I forced it down.

“Giulio, Caelian, get everyone out of here. Now,” I ordered my voice tight. I turned away, my heart hammering. Whoever was behind this wasn’t fucking around. I bent down, my eyes catching something else—an old, worn coin, half-buried in the dirt, the same symbol engraved on its surface.

I felt my throat tighten.

“What the hell does this mean?” Caelian asked, his voice strained. I didn’t answer. I couldn’t because I wasn’t sure myself. But instinctively I knew…

There was a storm knocking at my door…